Following the thread about 'ladies with extra boobage'..

lolly5648

I was told to do gentle walking to regain my strength and not to just sit around. My consultant also told me to always wear something at night, and to this day (8 years later) I still wear a light crop like this one:
http://www.johnlewis.com/sloggi-sensual-fresh-bra-top/p353331

I don't feel right when I don't bother wearing it.

sammyjammy

lolly5648 wrote: »

I was told to do gentle walking to regain my strength and not to just sit around. My consultant also told me to always wear something at night, and to this day (8 years later) I still wear a light crop like this one:
http://www.johnlewis.com/sloggi-sensual-fresh-bra-top/p353331

I don't feel right when I don't bother wearing it.

me too Lolly, I have that one. It will be six years next week since mine. I think I have more sleep bras than I do underwired ones! I swear mine are as pert as they were post op once the swelling had reduced and they had dropped.

Glad to hear things are going well MargaretClare, sounds like you are happy with your size. I wish I had gone smaller although not to the extent where I would do it all again and I'm quite a big girl so probably would have been out of proportion.

bugslet

Hi margaretclare

:TGood to hear that your experience has been so positive. Sorry i didn't see thisat the start. A friend of mine had hers done later in life after suffering back and shoulder ache for a long time and never regretted it.

One day I'll get mine done when I get some money!

moneylover

Glad you are so thrilled. Do post again once you have seen the surgeon. Would like to hear too how scars are doing, how much you think they will eventually show - also love to know about bras and whether you are in a 'normal' one now rather than what you were given after surgery. I know people say that boobs can seem a bit 'high up' for a few months after surgery do you feel that?
Just so interested to know as am sure I will go ahead.

Hope you have a good break in Eastbourne, not too far to go and plenty to do in and around. With a bit of luck you should catch some of the sun we are being promised.

moneylover

Excellent. I definitely fail the pencil test - had never heard of it but just tried it sitting here in front of computer!

Are you size 38 now because that is what you need for back measurement or is it all down to how much you wanted removed? I am a 32 DD/34D according to how I am measured - which doesn't sound very big but I need a size 14 jumper etc to accommodate boobs against size 10 trousers/skirts. I used to be a 34A in my twenties and all the rest of me has never changed - I exercise and eat healthily. If I wasn't so 'dropped' or 'shallow' as they politely call it in John Lewis I would probably leave alone but the size and droopiness together annoys me as otherwise my body perfectly reasonable for age.
What is it that they do to the nipples? that sounds slightly alarming! And you wont have to wear the bra in bed much longer? Not a lot of fun when hot in the summer! (ha,ha).
Anyway, all the best for continued recovery, sounds like your surgeon next week will be v pleased.

sammyjammy

margaretclare wrote: »

Oh no, I'm now wearing 'normal' bras, have been for a month or so now. Well, they're the kind that I like, anyway. They're by Royce and they do up at the front with poppers. Nice and soft, 38B. I've had to buy Johnson breast-pads until the dead skin from the nipple grafts all dropped off, and I've been using calendula lotion to keep the skin nice and moisturised - calendula is mildly-antiseptic. I also wear a bra at night, just the stretchy kind that you pull on.

The scars are fine. Because they were glued and not stitched, they'll be barely-noticeable once they've faded to pale pink. Anyway, no one will get to see them except DH, and he likes the result! I can definitely pass the 'pencil test' i.e. you put a pencil lengthways in the crease under the boobs and it falls out. Before, it wouldn't have done!

Before my OP I would have lost the pencil forever, glad to hear you're so happy with everything MC, it's so liberating isn't it.

sammyjammy

moneylover wrote: »

Excellent. I definitely fail the pencil test - had never heard of it but just tried it sitting here in front of computer!

Are you size 38 now because that is what you need for back measurement or is it all down to how much you wanted removed? I am a 32 DD/34D according to how I am measured - which doesn't sound very big but I need a size 14 jumper etc to accommodate boobs against size 10 trousers/skirts. I used to be a 34A in my twenties and all the rest of me has never changed - I exercise and eat healthily. If I wasn't so 'dropped' or 'shallow' as they politely call it in John Lewis I would probably leave alone but the size and droopiness together annoys me as otherwise my body perfectly reasonable for age.
What is it that they do to the nipples? that sounds slightly alarming! And you wont have to wear the bra in bed much longer? Not a lot of fun when hot in the summer! (ha,ha).
Anyway, all the best for continued recovery, sounds like your surgeon next week will be v pleased.

As far as nipples are concerned there are two options. Those whose notch to nipple (that's the measurement between the V shaped sternum bone at the bottom of your neck to your nipple) is beyond a certain measurement might have to have their nipple completely removed and sewn back on, this puts them at risk of the nipple dying and can cause complications in some cases. If the surgeon considers they don't need to cut off the nipple they cut around the nipple to it in the new position, it remains attached to the body so doesn't have that risk.

Hope that makes sense!

moneylover

Thanks SammyJammy - I think mine might be able to stay attached...
from your description anyway. There is a lot to think about, but at least I haven't got to find a decent surgeon - I live near MargaretClare and can use the same one. We are lucky here in Chelmsford, our local guys are all from the burns unit which is a national centre so very clued up.

moneylover

MargaretClare, as a matter of interest, how long did your surgery take? I have no feel for the time, these things take longer than you often expect when you first think about them.

sammyjammy

I seem to recall mine was around 4 hours.